Chapter 11

4. Player's trajectory (2)

Everywhere there are people who aren't satisfied with their position even if they belong to the privileged class, which anyone envies.

If you insist on classifying them, there were many such people, even in that privileged class, who belonged to B and C social ranks.

They harbored a big and narrow-minded anger and feelings of inferiority.

The easiest way to relieve it was to harass the weak.

For that, the main event of this party was prepared. The 'Fantasy Auction'.

'I drew a conquest map myself when playing the game. I should roughly remember the secret route.'

I managed to find the secret passage, because I traced and followed my memory.

Shortly after, I arrived at the backstage of the banquet hall and the place of my target.

In the backstage, various item cards were packed into golden boxes, each waiting to come up on stage.

'The item quality isn't bad.'

Though I didn't see SR items, there were SR— ranks and R+++ ranks.

They belonged to a sufficiently rare group.

It seemed that even the items which were impossible to cardify were set for sale at the Fantasy Auction, because I saw some big boxes.

If you calculated, the price of all of it amounted to tens or hundreds of millions of won.

However, the most noticeable among all of this was a huge golden-plated birdcage.

'A bad taste…'

The party dress code was the Vegas Gold.

A boy, wearing a feather robe[1] made of golden thread in that color, was locked up in that cage.

That boy was a playable character, Sawol Seeum.

⟨Reading character data of 'Sawol Seeum'.⟩

[Name] Sawol Seeum

[Titles] Successor of the Last Dynasty's King's messenger

[Blessing] None

[Gwangrim] (inactive)

[Status] Under the sale-sealing technique — skills are sealed and all levels are changed to 1

[Overall statistics] Lv. 1

[Skills]

Messenger Lv. 1

Flight Lv. 1

Wind Art[2] Lv.1

[Description]

The successor of the King's messenger.

The king of the last dynasty said: "You say that everyone's status is fixed from birth, but in the eyes of this one, you all are the same subjects."

The king freed 66 thousand of public slaves[3]. The king's messenger, who had no surname, name or status, was also liberated.

That messenger was born in the 4th month, so he was bestowed the surname 'Sawol' (April).

The Sawol family, who had no surname, name or status, undertook the duty of passing the 'words of the king that cannot remain in history' in the shadows.

After the Clash of worlds, the abilities of an ancient messenger, which were considered only a legend, were reproduced with supernatural powers in the Sawol family.

The ancient skills which the Sawol's founder was depicted to possess were 'messenger', 'flight' and 'wind art'.

Sawol Seeum was the only one in the Sawol family who possessed all those three skills.

That Sawol Seeum was now locked up in the huge birdcage with his eyes covered and hands shackled.

As if sensing a presence, he held his breath, then he hesitantly asked.

"Who are you…?"

Sawol Seeum was a valuable commodity.

They wouldn't starve him or use violence to prevent a decrease in value.

But even so, Sawol Seeum's lips were dry, and his cheeks were sunken.

He was so terribly weakened, he more resembled an elementary student.

"How long have you been here?"

"A week….A month…?"

It seemed he lost track of time.

'I the game Sawol Seeum was abducted after the Eungwang School's practical exam.'

The police were informed, but at the time, one teacher and four middle schoolers died at the exam's grounds. Because of that, the Sawol Seeum case didn't receive particular attention.

This time, because of the spread of the Son Meatjig affair, it was completely buried again.

'Even the Sawol family were in a situation where they couldn't actively search for Sawol Seeum. It couldn't be helped.'

The king's messenger family lived an enclosed life for a long time.

After 100 years of deliberations, they decided to come out of the shadows.

The first step was Sawol Seeum's entrance to the Eungwang School.

'The Sawol family didn't want to show Sawol Seeum to the world until he became an adult.'

It seemed that after finishing qualification exams for elementary and middle school curriculum, Sawol Seeum wanted to go to the Eungwang School.

With his iron will, the Sawol family permitted him to take the Eungwang School's entrance exam.

'But because the descendant of the king's relative found out about it…'

The teacher in charge of documents screening was a descendant of a maternal relative.

That teacher instantly recognized Sawol Seeum's background when he saw his surname.

He laid the trap to abduct Sawol Seeum, and then he sold him on the Fantasy Auction.

'In the story, Sawol Seeum was rescued only 2 years later.'

It's when the main character party infiltrates the Fantasy Auction to retrieve stolen cultural assets.

The first product to come out was Sawol Seeum who was sold two years ago.

'This is a messenger bird.' said Sawol Seeum's owner while bursting into laughter and taking off a curtain from the cage.

And the main character's party saw…

Sawol Seeum with a 'Flaying beast Grypagona[4]' wings forcibly attached to his tattered back.

I didn't want to see such a future.

"I came to save you. Let's escape."

"That, that… Uncle Semin was caught…"

If it's Sawol Seeum's uncle Sawol Semin…

He disappeared when searching for Sawol Seeum everywhere. After they found him, he already became an 'Necromancer's puppet[5]' Enemy.

Was he already captured at this point?

"They will use him as a sacrifice at today's Fantasy Auction opening show and…"

Sawol Seeum finally sobbed.

He buried his mouth into the shoulder and suppressed the sound as if he knew it would be difficult if someone came. The blindfold turned wet.

"I'm going to release your shackles. Keep pretending you're tied up. I'm also gonna rescue your uncle."

Sawol Semin created a variable, but it wouldn't be a big problem.

"Th–Th…Thank you…I'm okay, so uncle Semin, please…"

"Okay. You will lose strength if you cry. Hold it."

I was worried about leaving Sawol Seeum, who looked as if he was about to faint at any moment, but there was no other choice.

***

It felt like my head would be split by the headache because of all the status windows I kept checking a moment ago.

I tried to identify all party participants for dozens of seconds, but finally gave up.

'It's okay, I found the character I wanted.'

I calmly exchanged greetings with people at the party.

There was no need to actively say hello.

Everyone was talking to me by just approaching them thanks to Yeom Junyeol's face.

Yeom Junyeol was Red Lion's team master Yeom Bangyeol's only son and a star player himself.

For B and C rank people, it was a coveted connection.

"Hello. This is my first time. Did everyone receive a coin? It is also the first time I see this item."

"Of course. It's a SR+++ item specially given by the Jin people-nim."

They squeezed the coins until their hands were sweating, and they proudly showed them off to me when mentioned in conversation.

For most people, there won't be a day when they see and hold an item of SR+++ rarity in their entire lifetimes.

'It's a consumable that will disappear soon, so they probably want to feel this sensation even a little bit longer.'

A few people kept an eye on me and didn't approach, but the matters concerning the coin were the same.

It was obvious they held a coin in their hands even without a handshake.

Only after doing a full circle around the party venue I could barely relax.

After saying I was tired and wanted to rest for a moment, I left the crowd and walked towards the window.

'What a shitty thing.'

The golden velvet curtain reflecting the light of the chandelier hurt my eyes.

I had the urge to pour the non-alcoholic champagne I was holding on it.

When I was frowning, someone spoke up to me.

"Hello, senior Yeom Junyeol. I'm Lee Rena[6], who will enter Eungwang School this year."

"Hi."

Lee Rena, who was wearing only a ribbon in the Vegas Gold color, politely bowed her head in greeting.

The ribbon tying her tidy hair went very well with her sequin cocktail dress.

'Lee Rena is also a playable character. She appears the next year as a villain and then finally is coaxed by the main hero, so this way…'

I wanted to open the status window with the menu skill, but my head was pounding. I stopped.

I still had to fully use my skills and Gwangrim today.

I wasn't confident in consuming any more mental power.

'Lee Rena doesn't pose a high risk yet, so let's first wait and see.'

If I fail in the rescue of Sawol Seeum and Sawol Semin because of exhaustion and get caught here, it's truly the end.

"Um, I saw senior Yeom Junyeol-nim on TV before."

"I see."

"If it's someone like senior Yeom Junyeol-nim…They wouldn't come to this place."

"This place?"

Lee Rena opened and closed her mouth at my probing.

She blinked her unusually round eyes and covered her mouth.

It was an effect of a silence oath, making sharing the information on a particular subject impossible in any form.

'Did she already make a vow? The auction hasn't started yet.'

Lee Rena gave up trying to say something and put a hand on her chest.

I noticed the 'Pure silver coin replica of the oath of silence' between her fingers.

'She already made a vow, but still has a coin. That means…'

The oath of silence's pure silver coin was a consumable.

The moment you make a vow, you're restricted while the coin disappears.

Even so, right now Lee Rena was restricted while holding 'Silence oath'.

'Did Lee Rena's parents bring only a 16 year old child to this place?[7]'

Lee Rena was the same age as this world Jo Uisin.

If she came here last year, it meant she was dragged here at the age of 16.

No, it's possible she was dragged here even earlier.

"I wanted to say that if your face is known here, it'll be helpful in the future…"

Lee Rena was getting restless.

I couldn't know Lee Rena's situation or thoughts, but I could sense she was trying to warn me with all her might.

"It's getting very late. Isn't it time to go home? Won't senior-nim parents worry, if he doesn't come back like this?"

"Yes. They will be worried."

"Yeah. The 'Red Lion' team's master is crazy about his son…ah, no. He loves his only son-nim very much."

I knew that.

Because when Yeom Junyeol died at the age of 19…

The Red Flame King Yeom Bangyeol led the Red Lion, allied teams and the Yong[8] Tribe, which loved Yeom Junyeol, to raid the National Assembly with a wish to turn the entire Yeoui Island into a sea of flames.

'It's too much to compare.'

Someone who throws away everything they built for the soul of their dead child. That type of person was Yeom Bangyeol.

However, in this world also existed bastards like Lee Rena's parents who threw their young daughter into hell for their selfish desires.

"You don't need to worry about me."

"Yes?"

I wished she would worry more about herself than Yeom Junyeol.

"After the semester starts, apply to the Eungwang School's dormitory."

It would be better if Lee Rena enters the dormitory and puts even a little bit of distance between herself and her parents.

"Throw away that coin when the host comes up on stage. I'll be going now."

Like Lee Rena did for me, I also gave her my best advice.

I left her hesitating and with surprised eyes and turned to mix with the party again.

***

"Ladies, gentlemen, everyone. Attention, please! This dream party's host and organizer Byeon Sunhoe announces 2 am. What all of you were waiting for, the first new year's wish, the first dream! The Fantasy Auction starts now!"

The words in exaggerated tone resounded in the hall.

Soon, all the lights in the banquet hall went out and the dry ice fog spread on the stage.

"Woow!

"Oooo!"

And people cheered with the spotlights lighting up one after another on the stage.

Golden spotlight illuminated the glint covered acrylic cases holding item cards one after one.

'Sawol Seeum…'

The last item to light up was a birdcage in the center of the stage, imprisoning Sawol Seeum.

Sawol Seeum's eyes, after a blindfold was taken away, were bright red as if holding back bloody tears.

"Haha, did you hear? They say it's the last dynasty's relic. Extremely rare."

"Oh dear, what a dirty thing. I want to take it home and strictly educate it on how to behave."

"I want to ask for a garden from a Jin I know to send him there and see how many days he'll survive."

Sawol Seeum's face turned pale at participants' whispers.

He firmly pressed his lips and looked around.

He probably was searching for me.

But he was wearing the blindfold before, so he couldn't identify me.

"There is one more thing to see before the Fantasy Auction starts."

Clap.

Byeon Sunhoe lightly clapped once.

"Let me introduce the fearless moth, which plays with fire, aiming for the captured bird and a dirty rat bastard who swindles the moth!"

Seems like it wasn't only Sawol Semin who was caught.

Come to think about it, how did Sawol Semin, who had nearly no external connections, come to know about this place?

'Someone at this party, or to be precise, someone related to its organizer, informed Sawol Semin.'

The security guards dragged a battered man and woman and threw them at the center of the stage.

The man's face (I was guessing he was Sawol Semin) was covered in blood. He was unconscious.

The woman, wearing the same design uniform as security guards, also had injuries over her entire body, but she was still conscious.

She glared at Byeon Sunhoe with murderous intent.

"There, how are you? Even now, if you swear an oath with that silver coin and return to us…"

"Bullshit."

The woman resolutely cut Byeon Sunhoe's words.

It seemed she was beaten up before she was dragged here, as the black earring she was wearing was smashed and her face was covered in bloodstains.

She didn't back down even a little as she roared.

"If I knew it was such dog-shit work, I would rather live on the streets. You bastards are worse animals than even Enemies!"

"What!"

"Ha."

"How rude!"

"It's like this when rat bastards aren't home educated."

Puk!

Byeon Sunhoe kicked the female guard in the stomach.

She couldn't even breathe easily because of the pain, yet she didn't let out even one scream.

Sawol Seeum couldn't bear it and started to cry profusely.

"Let's leave the decision about the traitor's final moments to everybody. The first sale on today's Fantasy Auction will be this rat."

Byeon Sunhoe raised a hand with a silver coin.

"Here, did everyone receive their silence oath's silver coins? Please swear from that moment onwards to remain a silent bystander. Only a person who makes a vow can participate in the Fantasy Auction!"

Many participants grasped their silver coins with glossy eyes.

I cut off Byeon Sunhoe's words without raising a hand.

"I have a question."

"Yes? Gu….Ah no, Red Dragon Yeom Junyeol-nim. Please speak how much you want!"

He seemed embarrassed because I broke his flow at a decisive moment, but he lacked the ability to speak harshly against Yeom Junyeol.

I spoke with the most Yeom Junyeol-like tone.

"Did you know that silver's heat conductivity is higher than copper's?"

"Yes…?"

⟨Activating the active character's skill 'Remote Ignition'.⟩

The moment when everyone was struck by my dumb words.

I ignited about a hundred hidden embers I planted on the silver coins all at once.

*~*~*

[1] Feather robe – It's a robe which is shaped to resemble wings. Princess Kaguya-hime (popularly known as just Kaguya) wore it when she left the earth to the moon.

[2] Wind Art – art as a technique or talent.

[3] Public slaves – Gongnobi – they were slaves managed by the government. Specifics depend on the era, but as you can imagine, being an 'eternal slave for the government' is never pretty.

[4] Grypagona – Listen, this name is probably a 'griffin' but with guna attached, and then some sound changes happened, and then this translator went probably crazy, and now we have Grypagona. It's a nice name. You can use it in your rpg campaigns.

* Additional note: Remember when in chapter 4 Jo Uisin explained that every Enemy has category and species? So every time when an Enemy is mentioned in this book, it goes like that "category-something species-something Enemy-name". So in this case it was 'Flying[category] beast[species] Grypagona'. You can think about pokemon or yugioh cards and their type system. It wouldn't be exactly wrong, because 'rarity ranks' are based on this type of card games.

[5] Following the previous note. The category was 'puppet' or 'something to be manipulated' and species was 'spirit raised by the powers of the necromancer' (though that one is a bit confusing in its exact meaning. It could also be just a sorrowful ghost?)

[6] Lee Rena – continuing treating English one letter surnames intolerance. Her name in official revised romanization would be: I Rena.

[7] Lee Rena's parents – usually when you talk about yours or someone's parents in Korean, you say parents-nim, but here Jo Uisin didn't use the honorific. It was just 'parents'.

[8] Yong Tribe – 'Yong' from the dragon.